The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-11-17
A NOBLE REVENGE

hlitt Ahh Ltfc hha VIVA 80 hN'Ne
ihroc sboeied everything With fall o
sleei. the north Wind held 10 sway, aat
tore ui,h bitter gusts through the storm
driyen sbeels Steps and pasements were
traps for The nnwary; telegraph and ,ele-
phobe wires we're dowu; even stsunct
poles bad been snapped sheer of beiweet
the weight OF the ice aud the force OF .h'
wiod But the sun came ont the neIi
morning clear and bright. flashing in rair
bow iints on crystal world; aud liD,
msn who was out on the roof Of seven
story building. creeping down toward The
caves after refractory wire, aught ,h,
dazzle 10 bis eyes, slipped aod fell ba'
made desperate clutch with bis numbed
hsnds at the eavesirough, and hung sus
pended by that irAil support which might
give way soy instant beneath bis weight
People 10 tbs street belos cried out as
they caught sight Of bis pefilons position.
lob, he'll be down 10 a minute +
..He cant draw himself up. for see its
breaking away now"
mo. 1t holds yet. Can't something be
\ done for him Y
/ While the gazed upward, dnz'i With
horror aud feeling the utter holplessntss
OF any effort to reach him ia time, Sec
oud liueman appeared on the root, sent
/ tl tt N IN - la M lAF
It only required an Instant to take in the
situsiiJn--the cracking, ssaying caves
trough. the desperately gripping hands,
the CHASTITY, set face OF the doomed mau,
who swung over that deadly abyss
Save bin Save him came up from
the street below
| Only the meaning OF the cry reached the
man on the roof, so loud and strong was
the wind which blew there, but he an
swered as if he had heard it,
I'm Try. 'Taiut 70 difference to me if
it is Steve Brady. May be AS we'll both
go down; but reckon we've about equal
chances.
He was busy fastening rope around
the nearest chimney as he spoke II was
not long rope but it woald reach beyond
the edge Of the roof, and he made moose
iu tho eud OF 1t which he placed around
his body beneath his arms; then taking
coil OF wire which he carried for repair
ing purposes from bis pouch, he piled II
to the rope few feet farther up aud,
dropping upou hands and knees, made
his way 10 the caves
Hold fast, Steve" he called, encour-
agipely, I'm comm to help ye; hang on
till get turn OF the wire around you
Good Lord ! man don't you wiggle, or
part OF the suspended man, the parting
yon're gone one in spite Of me"
But in the same breath with the warn
ing there was convulsive effort on the
eaves-trough slipped, slipped from his fin
gers, he was toppliDg backward, falling
INTO space, the earth, the sky the face Of
the man above him oil blending 10 one
chaotic picture before his despairing sight,
yet he did not fall; the arm Of John Har-
mon. who had slipped like flash over the
edge. was about him, holding him up,
while he adjured
Get q hold Get held, for Gods
sake II you value your life and mine
keep your wits about you, Steve Brady
Now, then, climb up the rope. It'll bear
the strain, think, and you can get on the
roof from my shoulders. Steady; SC"
There was moment Of suspense, the
strands Of the straining rope we're cutting |
on the edge OF the states, but the wire
which John had piled to it higher up di
vided the weight and enabled first one
and then the other to climb to the roof.
They stood there painting with exertion,
looking into each others eyes.
II owe my life to you. said Brady,
"but wish didn't wish I'D dropped
down into the street before ] owed it to
you"
The cause OF the enmity between them
The usual csuse-only girl. Not even
pretty girl as the world saw her. but the
one on whom each OF these men had set
his heart. There was something Of the
coquette IN her, or else she had not yet
learned her own mind. for she had given
to each, or he thought 30
which amounted to the same.
The bitterness Of feeling that. out Of
gratitude he ought to stand out
,t bis rivals way, was working in Steve
Brady, but, with the words on his lips.
ae began to wayer and sunk down un-
conscious.
When he came 10 himself he was In q
strange place, but it WAS still John Har-
non who was with him, aud who had this
o say:
Nov, look here Steve Brady, don't
vou 20 to fussin or worriiin'. You've
,een took with spell, and busted blood
Iessel iunsrdly through strainin', but you
lout want doctorin' 80 much as quiet and
,eaee OF mind. That's why brung you
iere. This is my room and it's IN my
ny mothers house, and want to say to I
'ou that I'll be square and even with you. ,
won't take step toward seeing Dolly /
III you're on your feet again. won't try
0 get ahead with her through your mis-
ortune. and don't want you 10 feel be /
.olden 10 me for anything You'd done I
9 well by me II I'd been in your fix. {
The evil spirit in Steve was qnelled by .
bis generous treatment
You're better man than | am, John /
iarmon." be cried out You're more G
eservin' Of her, too /
don, know,' answered John; "1'm
Ior and you're quick, that's sbout the d
iaereaee. IL just depends on which she E
=. 4 =. a.. .,.nxt ,hatsa .ll ,hnsa IL - t,W 4